A Minnesota winter festival like no other is making its return to the state for the seventh year in a row, as the Great Northern Festival kicks off today and runs until Sunday, Feb. 5.
The Great Northern Festival has all of the saunas, hockey, beer, food, cocktails and the typical snow fun that festival-goers might expect, as well as film events, art, storytelling and important talks on climate change according to retail and restaurant entrepreneur and Co-founder Eric Dayton.
“It’s become something that we’re really proud of, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the three founding partners -including the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships and the St. Paul Winter Carnival - believing in the vision seven years ago,” Dayton said.
Dayton says the festival is a way to reach people through the traditions they love, while reminding them “that those traditions need protecting.”
“If we’re not intentional about the decisions we make in the years to come, then an activity like the U.S. Pond Hockey Championship may not be possible 50 years from now or even sooner than that if we don't have frozen lakes or snow to cross country ski on,” Dayton said.
The U.S. Pond Hockey Championship at the Great Northern Festival.Photo courtesy of U.S. Pond Hockey Championship
Dayton said he began to take climate change seriously during a pivotal point in his life 19 years ago.
That's when he accompanied polar explorer Will Steger on a 2004 dogsled expedition in the Canadian arctic, helping document the memories of Inuit elders who witnessed their environment changing firsthand.
Now, Dayton is raising awareness and fighting climate change through the multiple brands he runs, supports, and owns.
The Great Northern Festival kicks off this evening with an opening night party at Surly Brewing in Minneapolis. More information on the events and climate talks -including an online discussion with Will Steger- can be found at www.thegreatnorthernfestival.com.
